from page 2

I believe that violence and malevolent s

acts are created out of repression and_
frustration. Repressing a magazine like
Playboy, which expresses views and depictions
of female and male sexuality for the
enjoyment of men (or women), can only fan
the flames of frustration. I can also think
of a dozen or so articles in defense of gay
persons published in Playboy - so why take
such a swipe at them? They are so similar
to your own paper - are you just intimidated
by its success or popularity? Allowing an
attack on what is perceived as a
heterosexual publication can only widen the
gap between sexual views.
If the public only sees angry, protesting

faces representing your cause, how can you
ever expect to be liked and

accepted?...People like people who like them. I’

People choose friends because they find each
other’s company pleasurable....Find peace with
yourself, be confident in your decision or
nature to be gay and take the chip off your
shoulder...And there is no need to go the
other way either and flaunt your sexuality to
prove a point. It doesn’t need to be made!!
Signed, Kurt

"Gay Haters"
Dear Friends,

We have talked about "gay haters"
violence and harassment in past articles.

I would like to share some personal
feelings of my own.

I feel uncomfortable lately going in and
out of Pearls. (There has been) A lot of
name calling, and I have heard there has
been trouble with young guys from the
North Street area beating up on guys.
Can’t we go to a bar and have a good time
without this bull....??!!

I would like to hear from others who
might feel as I do. What can we do to
protect ourselves? What could Pearls do to
improve the situation?

Please write in to the paper with your
suggestions. We’re in this thing together.

Thanks,

John

Burlington

Germ-Warfare Charges!?

Dear Editor;

D. Hylander and A. Foster angrily
called for a new support group in their
letter in the June O.I.T.M. Their anger
seems to grow out of the Novosti charges
that the AIDS virus [HIV] was produced
and disseminated by the U.S. Government.
Because I am completing my graduate work
in biology at UVM, I keep up with the
scientific literature on'AIDS. Hylander and
Foster might be interested to know what the
scientific community thinks of the Russian
press agency's charges; .

1. No serious journalis has ever
substantiated any aspect of the charge.

2. HIV has been found in blood
samples from central Africa that were frozen

 

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First Friday of the Month

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away in the mid-1970’s. Therefore, the virus
has been in existence for at least a dozen
years, and probably more. The gene-splicing
techniques of the 1970’s were far too
primitive to be used to create a virus like
HIV. In fact, even the biotechnology of
today is inadequate for that task!
Remember, we still don’t understand some
of the mechanisms of HIV infection and
cell-killing.

3. AIDS is not a homosexual disease.
HIV is spread by intimate exchanges of
bodily fluids, as well as by contaminated
blood products and dirty needles. Straights
as well as gays are already infected. As the
disease progresses, more and more of the
victims will be heterosexual.

September 1987. Page 3

The charges of germ-warfare origin of
HIV are like President Reagan's calls for
compulsory AIDS testing in that they both
create "sideshows" that divert attention from
the real issues of AIDS. From a scientific
perspective, the most important factors in
the spread of HIV infection are promiscuity
(more than one sexual partner), high-risk sex
practices, and sharing of unsterile needles by
drug abusers. The Reagan Administration,
with‘ the exception of the Surgeon General,
has ducked these issues, through inattention
and then through distraction with
compulsory-test controversy. Will the gay
community be similarly distracted by phony

. '7
germ warfare charges. Afistair Mackay